Leaving Certificate (Ireland)
The Leaving Certificate Examination (Irish: Scrúdú na hArdteistiméireachta), commonly referred to as the Leaving Cert or (informally) the Leaving (Irish: Ardteist), is the final exam of the Irish secondary school system and the university matriculation examination in Ireland. It takes a minimum of two years' preparation, but an optional Transition Year means that for those students it takes place three years after the Junior Cycle examination. These years are referred to collectively as "The Senior Cycle". Most students taking the examination are aged 16–19; in excess of eighty percent of this group undertake the exam. The Examination is overseen by the State Examinations Commission. The Leaving Certificate Examinations are taken annually by approximately 60,000 students.
| Acronym | LC |
|---|---|
| Year started | 1925 (first examined) |
| Score / grade range |
|
| Offered | Sixth Year (~17–19 years old) |
| Restrictions on attempts | Repeating permitted with some restrictions |
| Countries / regions | Ireland |
| Languages | English, Irish |
| Annual number of test takers | 60,210 (in 2022) |
| Prerequisites / eligibility criteria | Junior Certificate |
| Fee | €116 |
| Website | examinations |
In 2018, the Department of Education alongside the National Council for Curriculum and Assessment confirmed that the senior cycle is under review with Politics and Society, Physical Education, and Computer Science the first of the new subjects to be part of the reforms. Core subjects such as Irish, English, Mathematics, and European languages will be changed in due course.